Maharashtra: After a controversy which was triggered over the introduction of “veg-only-tables” at one of the hostel messes in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Insight — the institute’s official student media body published an article questioning the segregation. The student body has raised concerns about the decision, terming it a “dangerous precedent” and has highlighted the far-reaching implications of such a decision.
Pointing out that hostel life is different from the ways of home living, Insight emphasises on the need to deal with this unfamiliarity. “While this is a testament to the fact that we need to support each other, this demand for segregation in the name of inclusivity (and worse, the acceptance of this demand) is unreasonable,” stated the article. “It should not set dangerous precedents where personal choices lead to the creation of exclusive spaces for people in the name of inclusivity,” it added.
According to the report, the decision that ignited the controversy involved allocating six separate tables for vegetarian food in the combined mess of hostels 12, 13, and 14 at IIT-Bombay, an action taken by their mess council. This move prompted widespread discussion and concern among the institute’s students.
Insight highlighted examples of inclusivity already present in hostel messes, such as the availability of Jain food, and early morning and evening food service during Ramadan and Paryushan. These services are offered without limiting or infringing on the choices available to all students. However, the article argues that providing for one group alone does not make the campus genuinely “inclusive” and does not excuse the responsibility to be sensitive to the concerns of other groups.
The student writers expressed their worry that allowing personal preferences to influence decisions about shared spaces could be misused. They raised the possibility of compromising the integrity of hostel elections, as candidates might promise to segregate common areas based on personal preferences to garner votes from specific student communities, potentially leading to greater polarization in student elections.
Insight also called for viewing the decision and its implications through the lens of caste. The article underlined that the issue had raised concerns about caste implications, and it urged decision-makers to educate themselves on this matter rather than ignoring it. The article concluded by recommending that student feedback be considered and that sensitive issues be addressed in a public forum.